Gas tank cap



0st. 23, 1934. w. T. CALDWELL GAS *TANK cn FiledApril 25, 193:5v

HHH.

INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 23, 1934 Tes PATENT omc e GAS TANK'CAP v l vI William Taylor Caldwell, Vivian, La. Application April 25, 1933, Serrial N0. 667,884

2 Claims.

The invention relates to a tank cap and more especially to jobbers gasoline tank caps.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a cap of this character, wherein the con- '5' struction of the same is such as to permit retail dealers when buying gasoline to gage the contents of the tank by a gage stick and to eliminate the possibility of tampering with the contents of the tank, thereby minimizing the sale of what is tO commonly termed bootleg gasoline from tank wagons.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a cap of this character, wherein the same involves a main cap which can be locked in closed position and an auxiliary cap which normally conceals a slot usable for a gage stick for the gauging of the contents of a tank through the main cap. This construction prevents unscrupulous retail Vdealers from buying what is 20 commonly termed bootleg gasoline from tank wagons as a jobber can keep the tank locked and allow the retail man to gage the gasoline in the tank by means of a steel gage stick inserted through the main cap.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a cap of this character which is simple in construction, thoroughly reliable and eiiicient for its purposes, convenient for gauging purposes of gasoline within a tank, strong, durable, and inexpensive to manufacture and install.

With these and other objects in View, the invention consists in the features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be V hereinafter more fully described in detail, illus- 35 trated in the accompanying drawing, which discloses the preferred embodiment of the invention, and pointed out in the claims hereunto appended.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the cap con structed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional View taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 1 showing the auxiliary cap in open position uncovering the gauging slot in the main cap.

Figure 4 is a sectional view on the'line 4 4 of Figure 3 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views in the drawing.

Referring to the drawing in detail, A designates generally a portion of a lling spout or inlet extension of a gasoline tank. Upon this spout A is (Cl. 22o-86) mounted the cap constituting the present invention and hereinafter fullyA described.

This cap comprises a sleeve-like body 5 inter-` nally threaded at 6 for a distance to permit the coupling thereof to the externally threaded end 7 of the spout A. Formed exteriorly on the sleeve-like body 5 is the hinge ear 8 engaged by a hinge pintle 9, the same being also engaged with the bifurcated hinge extension 10 of a main cap 11 which carries diametrically opposite the extension 10 the latching eye 12 to fit with a keeper 13 on the body 5 and with these can be engaged a suitable lock for the fastening of the main cap 11 closed.

The main cap has provided therein centrally of the same an elongated slot or opening 14 through which is adapted to be passed a steel gage stick so that the user can readily gage the gasoline content of the tank without requiring the unlocking of the main cap 11 and the opening of the same. Formednext to the hinge extension 10 at the upper side of the main cap 11 is a bearing 15 receiving a pintle 16 which hingedly mounts upon this main cap the auxiliary cap 17 for closing the slot or opening 14. The auxiliarycap 17 is pro- 8 vided with a protuberance 18 which constitutes a stopper for insertion in the slot 14 toseal the said slot or opening 14 when the auxiliary cap 17 Yis in closing position.

The bearing 15 is formed with an abutment 19 for the auxiliary cap 17 so that when the latter is in vertical position it will rest against such abutment 19 and be heldin this vertical or upright position.

About the slot or opening 14 is a rib 20 for intertting in a correspondingly shaped channel or groove 21 about the portion 18 and thus when the auxiliary cap 17 is lowered onto the main cap 11 the said slot or opening 14 will be tightly closed.

Mounted transversely in the spout A and engaged likewise in the body 5 is a retaining screw l 22 which carries the nuts 23 and cotter pins 24, these being mounted as is clearly shown in Figures 1, 2 and 4 of the drawing, they being accessible only from within the spout A so that said body 5 when engaged thereon will be secure against removal.

What is claimed is: f

1. A gas tank cap comprising a collar-like member having aninternally threaded end adapted to receive the upper end of the filling neck of a tank, a main cap hinged to said member for closing the same and adapted to be secured in closed position and having a centrallylocated elongated slot for the reception of a steel gage stick therein, an auxiliary cap hinged to said first-named cap for closing the elongated slot therein, the rst-named cap being formed with an upstanding rib about said slot, and a protuberance on said auxiliary cap and received in the slot to constitute a stopper therefor, the auxiliary cap being providedgwith a channel about the protubera-nce for accommodating the rib about the slot when the protuberance is engaged in said slot.

2. A gas tank cap comprising a collar-like member having an internally threaded end adapted to receive the upper end of the lling neck of a tank, a main cap hinged to said member for closing the same and adapted to be secured in closed position and having a centrally located elongated slot for the reception of a steel gage stick therein, an auxiliary cap hinged to said firstnamed cap for closing the elongated slot therein, the first-named cap being formed with an upstanding rib about said slot, a. protuberance on said auxiliary cap and received in the slot to constitute a stopper therefor, the auxiliary cap being provided with a channel about the protuberance for accommodating the rib about the slot when the protuberanceis engaged in said slot, and an abutment on the rst-named cap and engaged by the auxiliary cap when raised to perpendicular position.

WILLIAM TAYLOR CALDWELL. 

